Beth Rapha F.I.R.E. Youth Ministry
Revs. Brian & Nadine McKenzie, Youth Pastors

Beth Rapha FIRE! is the name of the Youth Ministry at The International Gathering at Beth Rapha. The significance of FIRE lies in its connection to our logo (an inflamed candle), which carries with it the potential to ignite anything that comes into contact with the flame. It is our contention that our Youth will learn about the faith and God of their Fathers and Mothers, that they are not too young to love and serve the Lord and that they can wholly follow the Lord regardless of the obstacles this world uses to impede their progress. We seek to groom these youth to become disciples of God through programs and ministries that will inflame, inspire, challenge and grow them, for the furtherance of the Gospel.

Youth Church: Youth Church is one of the delightful ministries of the International Gathering at Beth Rapha. Youth Church meets during the regular 11:15 am service on Sunday mornings. This ministry seeks to provide the pre-adolescents with an opportunity to experience worship and learning in an atmosphere suited to their capacity and intelligence. Through Biblical teaching, art, games, Power point presentations and sharing, the youth learn valuable lessons in faith, life and their Lord. Usually the youth are permitted to enjoy the beginning of the 11:15 service and are dismissed to Youth Church prior to the preaching of the Word of God.

The Apprenticeship Program: The Ministry for the Apprentice Program is designed for select young men and women 18 years of age and older who are members of Beth Rapha. The purpose of this ministry is to offer these young people the following:
- Preparation for ministry through intentional mentoring and discipleship;
- Preparation for entrepreneurship through career development and life skills orientation;
- Preparation for manhood and womanhood through gender specific training experiences; and
- Preparation for kingdom service based upon biblical principles and Christian practices.

The following criteria serve as the guidelines for participation in the Ministry for the Apprenticeship Program:
- All participants must be at least 17 years of age;
- All participants must be a student in high school or high school graduates;
- All participants must have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior;
- All participants must be members in good standing at Beth Rapha, or be referred and approved by the Youth Pastors; and
- All participants must be active in Catechism, Transformation, and Spiritual Growth Classes.

The curriculum for the Apprenticeship Program is taken directly from the goals and objectives of the ministry. It is a comprehensive curriculum inclusive of several hours of classroom instruction coupled with various interactive / group activities. At the conclusion of this program, it is expected that the participants will graduate into a more wholesome Christian walk as young men and women in ministry with a more complete focus on their value, significance, and purpose.

Ministers of Tomorrow Program:
The Ministers of Tomorrow program of the International Gathering at Beth Rapha seeks to provide learning experiences for our young people, specifically our pre-adolescents/teens (Sons of God/Diva/Diva Petals/Generation Next 5-17/18). These learning experiences range from learning how to minister publicly, how to debate and defend yourself apologetically to starting a business and choosing a career. The scope of the classes deals with the practical as well the spiritual aspects of Christian life. Although the classes contain to some degree the same material, it is modified to the audiences earlier noted. These programs seek to prepare its participants for a well rounded life so that they may heavenly minded towards an earthly good for the furtherance of the Gospel.

Kidz Club/Tent Making
The Kidz Club of the International Gathering at Beth Rapha seeks to provide the space where our young toddlers can have fun and learn about God in a context suited to their ability to learn. Through these ministries the children learn about God, family, education and missions, through materials that work to enlighten and inflame their interest and exposure in the aforementioned themes.

‘Purity’ and ‘Love and Harmony’ Ministries: ‘Purity’ and ‘Love and Harmony’ Ministries are two individual ministries of the International Gathering at Beth Rapha that are unisex in their audience yet distinct in their address of issues facing pre-adolescents. Both ministries minister to both boys and girls together as noted earlier. The Purity class seeks to create the space where youth can talk and learn about what living a pure and holy life looks like from God’s eyes. Issues discussed are sexuality, holiness, thought life and behavior, in the context of the Church, home and school. The Love and Harmony ministry seeks to create the opportunity for the youth to engage each other without the added pressure of worldly competition and strife, impeding their development as caring disciples of Christ. The usual form of teaching is in the form of games that seek to build transparency and mutual cooperation between the participants for the furtherance of the Gospel in school, home and Church. Love and Harmony and the Purity class meet on the 2nd Saturdays of each month.

Generation Next: Generation Next is the teen ministry of the International Gathering at Beth Rapha. Generation Next seeks to provide the space where teens can come and experience the excitement of being a Christian with other teens just like them. Through Bible based teaching, DVD video lessons, practical life application and sharing, the youth learn that living for the Lord is not for the seasoned saints alone but for all those who have a hunger for an experience with God. This ministry furthermore seeks to create young disciples who will seek to live for the Lord, enhance their God given abilities for the furtherance of the Gospel in their schools and neighborhoods. Generation Next is for youth ages 13-17/18 and meets on the 4th Saturdays of every month.

- DIVA/DIVA Petals: D.I.V.A. (Diligent In Virtuous Attributes) and Diva Petals are ministries that are structured to serve the needs of our young ladies between the ages of 5-12 (Diva Petals) and 13-19 (D.I.V.A.). These ministries seek to create the space for the young ladies to learn about their faith, themselves and each other. Through this ministry, these young girls learn Biblical lessons that reach into practical areas of their lives. Here, the Word of God is always given within the scope of practical application. This ministry furthermore seeks to create young disciples who will seek to live for the Lord, enhance their God given abilities for the furtherance of the Gospel in their schools and neighborhoods. Of note, the D.I.V.A. ministry is geared towards ministering to the needs of our Youth who may be under foster care. Diva and Diva Petals meet on the 1st Saturdays of every month.

Sons of God: The Sons of God ministry is a ministry of the International Gathering at Beth Rapha that seeks to provide the space for young boys between the ages of 5-12, to learn about their faith, themselves and each other. Through this ministry these young boys learn Biblical lessons that reach into practical areas of their lives. Here, the Word of God is always given within the scope of practical application. This ministry furthermore seeks to create young disciples who will seek to live for the Lord, enhance their God given abilities for the furtherance of the Gospel in their schools and neighborhoods. Sons of God meet on the 1st Saturdays of every month.

Vacation Bible School: Vacation Bible School is a ministry with a limited but exciting scope. VBS at the International Gathering at Beth Rapha commences in the 2nd month of summer vacation, which is usually August. VBS runs from the 1st week to the 3rd week in August and between the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The curriculum is a synthesis from the teachings of our Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Jacqueline E. McCullough by the Youth Pastor. Besides the teaching component, the youth and staff are challenged to grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, academically and physically, through a wealth of fun activities geared towards growing them in Christ for the furtherance of the Gospel.

Hallelujah Fest: The Hallelujah Fest is a substitute harvest festival in place of Halloween festivities. The whole of the youth department is utilized to create the space for fun and games with a Christian theme. Instead of using the satanic iconography of Halloween, godly images and themes are used to promote a Christian appreciation of themes associated with God’s giving of a harvest to the faithful of his flock. Aside from games, food, intergenerational activities and teaching is conducted during this time. The Hallelujah Fest is usually conducted on the 31st of October.

Hip and Holy: Hip and Holy is a ministry of the International Gathering at Beth Rapha that is structured towards providing the space where our Young Adults between the ages of 18-30 can experience what uncompromising godliness looks like. This ministry seeks to grant Young Adults the opportunity to experience each other, learn how godly relationships evolve, encourage each other and grow in their relationship with Christ, without the emotional, sexual and social tensions, that secular culture forces upon them. Through this ministry, time is set aside for training through the Apprenticeship program which seeks to provide practical training in life issues that many young people don’t receive. Also provided are opportunities for prayer and fellowship together as brothers and sisters in Christ who have learned that mutual respect and engagement is possible without having to compromise ones Christianity in the process. The Young Adults have learned that through Christ one can live Hip, staying in touch with the realities of life and trends and still live Holy. Hip and Holy meets on 2nd Saturdays of each month.